Finding Home in the Holy Family: A Journey of Faith, Family, and Hope
About ten years ago, the Lord led me to the Pauline Family. At that time, I had never heard of the Holy Family Institute. I was newly engaged and beginning to prepare for married life, carrying in my heart a deep desire to follow Jesus fully, not only as a woman of faith, but as a future wife and mother called to holiness in family life.
As I began to learn about the Pauline Family and the charism of Blessed James Alberione, I encountered a spirituality that deeply shaped my understanding of vocation. I was especially drawn to its mission of evangelization through communication and its vision of holiness lived in everyday life. Over time, I also encountered families who welcomed me with warmth and faith. Their witness helped me see more clearly that marriage and family life are not separate from holiness, they are a true path to it.
As a nurse and through my work in family ministry, I have had the privilege of walking with many families through both joy and suffering. I have learned again and again that every family carries a cross, and that no one is meant to carry it alone. My own family has also faced seasons of trial, but the Holy Family Institute has remained a steady source of grace. It has become the “glue” that holds us together by calling us back to prayer and forgiveness while keeping Christ at the center.
One of the most profound experiences of my life was a family pilgrimage to Rome with other families of the Institute. We went to deepen our understanding of the Pauline Family and its spirituality. Because of unexpected travel complications, we had to remain in Rome almost two additional weeks. What initially felt uncertain and overwhelming became one of the most powerful experiences of God’s providence and love.
The sisters welcomed us with extraordinary generosity. They provided us with a place to stay, meals, and constant care. More than assistance, they gave us something deeper—they made us feel like family. They played with our children, laughed with them, and created a sense of home.
During that time, I experienced a severe lupus flare-up that left me in significant pain and exhaustion. One night, without hesitation, one of the Institute families took my youngest child so I could rest. That simple gesture of love revealed something profound to me: God was showing me, in a very concrete way, what it means to belong to a spiritual family in Christ. In that moment, I knew with certainty that this was the family God had given us. Since then, the Holy Family Institute has remained a place of stability and grace. It continually draws us back to what matters most: Christ at the center of our home.
This past June, my husband and I had the great joy of making our First Profession in the Holy Family Institute. Standing before the altar with other couples was a deeply moving moment in our journey. The blessing we received during the Profession Mass remains deeply engraved in my heart. It reminded us that God never promised a life without suffering, but He did promise His constant presence. That truth has become a source of strength for me in moments of difficulty—whether in marriage, family life, or health.
In today’s world, families face many challenges. There is often pressure toward individualism, division, and distraction from what truly matters. Yet the Holy Family of Nazareth continues to show us a different way: a life rooted in love, sacrifice, patience, and unity in God. When Christ remains at the center, even the most difficult trials can become moments of grace and transformation.
My hope is that more families will discover the Holy Family Institute. For us, it has been far more than a community or movement. It has been a home; a place where we are supported in our joys, carried in our struggles, and reminded that we are never alone on the journey toward holiness.
I do not know what tomorrow will bring. I know there will be more joys and more crosses, but I also know this: as long as we remain united to Christ and to one another as a family, we will be given the grace to persevere through all things.
May every home become a little Nazareth and may our families—united in Christ—be living signs of hope, love, and faith for the world.
Leiri Bocanegra was born in Villalba, Puerto Rico but now resides in Massachusetts with her Husband and four children. Leiri and her husband Gustavo met in their parish youth group, “Agape,” and have been serving together ever since! You can usually find them singing together at church events and retreats! Leiri works as the Coordinator of Outreach and Evangelization for St. Mary’s Parish in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She also has a nursing background in both Geriatrics and Pediatrics. She has been a member of the Holy Family Institute for six years and enjoys Family Ministry. Her biggest accomplishment has been becoming a mother. She enjoys being able to use social platforms to help other Catholic mothers connect and assist one another through the wonderful vocation of motherhood!
